Recent Articles

Lagoon lament: Waituna woes continue

Lagoon lament: Waituna woes continue

| February 19, 2024 | 5 Comments

The community in Waituna, many of whom have farmed there for decades, had been calling for common sense concerning the management of the lagoon for months, if not years.

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Challenging year for Farmlands

Challenging year for Farmlands

| November 17, 2023 | 0 Comments

Farmlands has released its 2023 Annual Report. It emphasises the rural supplies co-op’s focus on backing its core farmers and growers in a difficult operating environment, while also setting the co-op up for long-term success as a rural market leader in rural supplies, fuel, animal health, nutrition, agronomy and horticulture. Kiwi farmers and growers are facing […]

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A toxo disaster – despite vaccination

A toxo disaster – despite vaccination

| March 3, 2019 | 0 Comments

When you go to the trouble of vaccinating your two-tooths against toxoplasmosis you expect these animals will be protected. Trudi Baird tells of the dreadful lambing that resulted when this was not the case.

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NZ Yarn & Hemp P/ship formed

NZ Yarn & Hemp P/ship formed

| December 17, 2018 | 0 Comments

Hemp New Zealand has acquired a 15% interest in NZ Yarn in an effort to develop new blends and exciting consumer products. The partnership will innovate hemp fibre processing as well as boost the development of new consumer products made from hemp yarn, wool & hemp yarn blends and non-woven wool and hemp products Craig […]

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Parasite resistant genes will boost profits

Parasite resistant genes will boost profits

| December 12, 2018 | 0 Comments

Breeding for parasite resistant genetics will strengthen flocks and save time and money on-farm, according to a group of leading sheep breeders. Growing concerns from farmers around increasing levels of drench resistance, rising farming input costs, and issues getting farm labour have prompted the ten breeder so  form WormFEC. The breeders’ group brings together more than […]

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Best practice to be recognised by Fonterra

Best practice to be recognised by Fonterra

| December 11, 2018 | 0 Comments

Fonterra farmers were told today of the Co-op’s plans to provide them with more meaningful recognition and rewards in season 2019/2020 for producing high quality, safe, sustainable dairy. Farm Source and Global Operations Chief Operating Officer Robert Spurway said Fonterra farmers have long led the way when it comes to milk quality, animal welfare and […]

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Polio-type disease often undiagnosed

Polio-type disease often undiagnosed

| December 9, 2018 | 0 Comments

Both calves and lambs can suffer from polioencephalomalacia and easily go undiagnosed and die as a result. The disease effects the brain and is basically a thiamin (B1) deficiency. Often an older lamb or calf will be found lying flat, head flung back, flinging its legs about but more-or-less stuck on its  side. Sometimes they will […]

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Time to be weighing lambs…

Time to be weighing lambs…

| December 8, 2018 | 0 Comments

The scales have been dragged out of the dusty corner, the lambs are lined up, their mothers are roaring and it’s about now that the debate starts: “What did we do last year? 32kg. No, I’m sure that’s not right.” The table below is the same one we first printed in the on-paper version of […]

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Higher lagoon levels will cause issues

Higher lagoon levels will cause issues

| December 7, 2018 | 0 Comments

Lindsay Paddon knows what it’s like down at Waituna when the lagoon reaches high levels. The photos below show him firstly in June 1994 with the lagoon at 2.35m. And then in recent times at a low lagoon level (in the same place). The Invercargill fisherman and hunter is pictured beside his hut near the […]

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You can’t trust the Trust, farmers say

You can’t trust the Trust, farmers say

| December 7, 2018 | 0 Comments

25 November 2018 By Mary-Jo Tohill – www.stuff.co.nz The trust that looks after the Waituna catchment and lagoon in Southland has been told that it must keep the community better informed after accusations that it cannot be trusted. Farmers in the Waituna catchment turned out in force to a public meeting last week to challenge the Whakamana Te Waituna Trust’s plans to […]

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